Updated April 30, 2021
U.S.-Singapore Relations
Overview
was one of the first nations outside China to report cases of
Though geographically only about three times the size of
the disease, with its first infection reported on January 23,
Washington, DC, and with a population of about 5.9
2020. Public health experts praised Singapore’s rapid early
million, the city-state of Singapore exerts economic and
actions, including extensive monitoring of cases and their
diplomatic influence on par with much larger countries. Its
contacts, temperature checks at building entrances, and
stable government, strong economic performance, educated
clear public messaging. Singapore experienced a significant
citizenry, and strategic position along key shipping lanes
“second wave” of cases in the spring of 2020. The
afford it a large role in regional and global affairs. For the
outbreak—centered in the crowded quarters where migrant
United States, Singapore has been a partner in both trade
workers live—prompted authorities to temporarily close
and security initiatives and an advocate of a strong U.S. role
schools and most businesses. As of April 2021, Singapore
in the Asia-Pacific region. At the same time, Singapore’s
led the rest of Asia in its vaccination campaign with the use
leaders have aimed to maintain close relations with China,
of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
and to maintain positive ties with all regional powers.
Singapore Politics
The United States and Singapore have extensive trade and
Singapore’s People’s Action Party (PAP) has won every
investment ties. The U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement
general election since the end of the British colonial era in
(FTA), which went into effect in January 2004, was the first
1959, and it continues to enjoy widespread support. The
U.S. bilateral FTA with an Asian country. In 2019, U.S.-
PAP has delivered consistent economic growth and
Singapore trade totaled about $91.6 billion, and Singapore
benefited from the country’s fragmented opposition and
was the 14th largest goods export market for the United
pro-incumbent electoral procedures, in addition to adopting
States. That same year, the U.S. trade surplus with
policies that stifle political dissent. In recent years, some
Singapore amounted to $18.3 billion. Singapore is a party
observers have pointed to changes in the political and social
to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for
environment that may portend more political pluralism,
Trans-Pacific Trade Partnership (CPTPP), an 11-nation
including generational changes and an increasingly
agreement that evolved from the U.S.-led Trans-Pacific
international outlook. In the most recent general election,
Partnership (TPP), from which the United States withdrew
held in July 2020 against the backdrop of COVID-19, the
in 2017, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic
PAP won 83 of 93 parliamentary seats, but a record number
Partnership (RCEP), a 15-nation regional trade pact.
of opposition parties participated, and the PAP’s share of
the popular vote dropped to 61%, compared with 70% in
Although not a U.S. treaty ally, Singapore is one of the
the previous 2015 polls.
strongest U.S. security partners in the region. A formal
strategic partnership agreement allows the United States to
Increasingly, PAP officials are preparing for a change in the
access Singaporean military facilities and promotes
party’s leadership. In 2015, the country’s long-time leader
cooperation on issues ranging from counterterrorism to
Lee Kuan Yew died. He was widely heralded as the
counter-proliferation.
architect of Singapore’s success and its rapid economic
development. Much of the country’s authoritarian politics
2021 Burma Crisis
derived from Lee’s efforts to constrain political opposition.
Singapore plays an important role in diplomacy
Lee’s eldest son, Lee Hsien Loong, is the country’s current
surrounding the political crisis in Burma (Myanmar), where
prime minister, in office since 2004. In 2021, Deputy Prime
the military seized power in a February 1, 2021, coup
Minister Heng Swee Keat, widely anticipated to be the next
d’etat. By some measures, Singapore is Burma’s largest
Prime Minister, unexpectedly withdrew from consideration,
trading partner, and reportedly is an important banking and
throwing the predicted succession process into uncertainty.
health-care center for senior Burmese military officials. At
A cabinet reshuffle revealed potential successors to Lee, but
an April 24, 2021, summit of the Association of Southeast
none have emerged as the front runner.
Asian Nations (ASEAN), Singapore Prime Minister Lee
Hsien Loong called on the Burmese military to halt
Singapore’s leaders refer to a “contract” with the
violence and release all political prisoners. Singapore
Singaporean people, under which some individual rights are
officials have opposed the imposition of further economic
curtailed in the interest of maintaining a stable, prosperous
sanctions, arguing that isolating the military would be
society. However, PAP leaders speak of the need to reform
counterproductive.
the party to respond to the public’s concerns, which appear
to focus on rising living costs, wealth disparities, public
Singapore and the COVID-19 Pandemic
health, and immigration. Some observers praise Singapore’s
Singapore has largely harnessed the spread of the virus
pragmatism, noting its sustained economic growth and high
inside its borders, with daily new cases in the single digits
standards of living. Others criticize the government’s
and one of the lowest fatality rates in the world. Singapore
paternalistic approach, saying that it stunts creativity and
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U.S.-Singapore Relations
entrepreneurship and contributes to rising income
Initiative, and in 2014, the U.S. Customs and Border
inequality.
Protection agency signed three agreements with Singapore,
providing a legal framework for the customs authorities to
The U.S. government has criticized some aspects of
together counter trafficking, proliferation, and terrorism.
Singapore’s political system. The U.S. State Department’s
2020 Human Rights Report cited “preventive detention by
Singapore Economy and U.S. Trade
the government under various laws that dispense with
Relations
regular judicial due process; monitoring private electronic
Singapore’s GDP per capita (PPP) is one of the world’s
or telephone conversations without a warrant; serious
highest at $101,649. The country’s role as a regional
restrictions on the press and internet, including criminal
entrepot means that its economy depends heavily on trade.
libel laws; substantial legal and regulatory limitations on
Singapore’s annual trade volumes are more than three times
the rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of association;
the country’s annual GDP, and in 2018, its port handled
and existence of a law criminalizing consensual same-sex
about 630 million tons of cargo. Singapore exports
sexual conduct between men, although not enforced.” In the
consumer electronics, information technology products, and
past, the PAP has used defamation suits and libel damages
pharmaceuticals. It also is one of the top three oil-refining
to bankrupt opposition politicians.
centers in the world, even though it has no natural resources
of its own. China is Singapore’s largest trading partner, and
U.S.-Singapore Defense Cooperation
the United States is its biggest foreign investor. In 2019, the
The “Strategic Framework Agreement” formalizes the
stock of U.S. foreign direct investment in Singapore totaled
bilateral security relationship between the United States and
$288 billion, accounting for around 80% of total U.S.
Singapore. The agreement, which was signed in 2005 and is
investment in Southeast Asia. Between 2008 and 2016, the
the first of its kind with a non-ally since the Cold War,
TPP was the primary trade initiative between the United
builds on the U.S. strategy of “places-not-bases”—a
States and Singapore. The United States withdrew from the
concept that aims to provide the U.S. military with access to
agreement in January 2017, but Singapore, along with 10
foreign facilities on a largely rotational basis, thereby
other countries, moved ahead with the revised CPTPP.
avoiding sensitive sovereignty issues. In 2015, the two
countries agreed to an “enhanced” cooperation agreement,
Singapore has pursued a range of trade agreements. It has
and the United States began deploying surveillance aircraft
concluded 22 bilateral and regional FTAs, including the
to Singapore around the same time. The FY2020 National
U.S.-Singapore FTA (2003), the CPTPP, and the RCEP.
Defense Authorization Act included language that
Singapore has a largely pro-trade liberalization policy: it
recognized Singapore as a major security cooperation
has a mature, globalized economy, virtually no agricultural
partner, reflecting the term first used in the 2005 agreement.
sector, and its manufacturing industry is focused on
specialized products such as high-end electronics and
Singapore is a substantial market for U.S. military goods,
pharmaceuticals. The country’s leaders are concerned about
with $8.5 billion in active sales under the Foreign Military
the potential impact of Sino-U.S.-trade disputes on the
Sales system in 2021, in addition to over $37.6 billion in
Singapore economy.
defense articles via Direct Commercial Sales since 2016.
Singapore’s Regional Role
The U.S. Navy maintains a logistical command unit—
Singapore is a founding member of ASEAN, a forum that
Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific—in
aims to prevent disputes and encourage cooperation, and
Singapore that coordinates regional warship deployments
helps Southeast Asia’s mostly small countries influence
and logistics. Singapore’s Changi Naval Base is one of the
regional diplomacy. ASEAN’s members are Brunei,
few facilities in the world that can accommodate a U.S.
Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the
aircraft carrier. Singapore-stationed U.S. littoral combat
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
ships and P-8 Poseidon aircraft have performed patrols in
the South China Sea, participated in exercises with other
Singapore has encouraged greater U.S. engagement in Asia,
countries, and provided disaster relief. Singaporean troops
but warned that efforts to “contain” China’s rise are
have served in non-combat roles at U.S. Central Command
counterproductive. Singapore has maintained generally
and at the Combined Joint Task Force’s headquarters.
good relations with China, at least partly as a hedge against
Singapore participates in multilateral regional military
possible U.S. retrenchment. However, in 2016, Singapore
exercises and several bilateral exercises with the U.S.
supported an international tribunal’s ruling deeming many
military on an annual basis. Singapore operates three
of China’s claims in the South China Sea as having no legal
permanent advanced fighter jet training detachments in the
basis. Though it adheres to a one-China policy, Singapore
continental United States, and in December 2019 the United
has a strong unofficial relationship with Taiwan. Singapore
States and Singapore agreed to establish a fourth in Guam.
portrays itself as a useful intermediary, providing a bridge
to developing countries in fora like international climate
Law Enforcement Cooperation
negotiations.
The United States and Singapore engage in ongoing law
enforcement cooperation. According to some, such
Ben Dolven, Specialist in Asian Affairs
cooperation is crucial, given that Singapore is the busiest
Emma Chanlett-Avery, Specialist in Asian Affairs
transshipment hub in the world, and is a transit point for
millions of air passengers, including suspected terrorists.
IF10228
Singapore is part of the U.S.-led Container Security
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U.S.-Singapore Relations


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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF10228 · VERSION 8 · UPDATED

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